are humored like children in the
convents." (Mas, p. 69.)

[140] M. and D. omit "and perukes."

[141] Literally, "the flower of the saints," perhaps alluding to
some book of lives of saints, thus entitled. M. has "the isles of
the saints."

[142] M. and D. omit the last three words.

[143] "Nearly all the villages have theaters for cock-fighting. Before
fighting, some very sharp knives are fastened to the spurs so that
one or the other is killed at the first meeting. On this account the
cockfight does not offer the interest or sport that it does in Espana
and other places, and it occupies the attention of these people solely
as a means of winning or losing money. In reality, a cockpit is a house
of play. Before the two fowls are placed in attitude of fight, the bets
are placed on two spindles. One of them generally offers a great sum in
favor of the black cock, while others bet on the white one, until the
sum is matched. The leading cocks are loosed and one of them is killed
in less than two minutes. This is in fact a 'monte,' as is playing
the races or betting on the jack [at cards]. The Filipinos, by nature
idlers and greedy, are passionately fond of play, for they consider
it an excellent and unique way of getting money without working; and
they gather like flies to these pernicious places, in order to spend
what they have and what they can succeed in borrowing or robbing,
abandoning their most sacred and peremptory obligations. Furthermore,
they pass many hours, both in their houses and in the cockpit, teaching
a cock how to fight and to have no fear of the people; and examining
the other cocks, in order to ascertain by certain rules and marks which
will triumph and which will succumb. There is nothing more commonly
seen even in the very streets of Manila itself, than a man squatted
down on his heels with one of these fowls, in order that it might
become accustomed to the noise, so that it might not grow confused or
become frightened in the pit. There are men who take heed of nothing
else or have other thought during the day than of their cocks.

"The government authorizes these wretched gatherings, not only on
Sundays, but also on Thursdays or fair-days, which are not few,
and has rented out the right of opening these theaters. Last year
this department produced about 40,000 pesos fuertes. A sad recourse
which must have occasioned and will occasion so many tears, crimes,
and punishments, since so much vagabon